Can Mikita Badiakouski make it five?
There may only be two days remaining of Triton Madrid 2022, but there are still three tournaments to conclude. Based on what we saw today, each of them will be a monster.
After Tom Dwan’s quick-fire win in the PLO earlier, short-deck hold’em took over again at Casino Gran Via, specifically the €100K Short Deck Main Event. They played through 10 levels today and it was frantic stuff, with bullets ricocheting around the place like a Wild West saloon.
There were 60 entries, including 28 re-entries, which means a prize pool of an even €6 million. The winner of this one is due to get €1.8 million, and even the runner-up will become a consolation millionaire. Second place gets €1.305 million.
When the bags came out tonight, there were 13 players remaining, led by Mikita Badziakouski. Again. The Belarusian already has one title from this Triton Madrid stop, his fourth overall, and he is a long way clear at the top of the counts tonight. He has 3.127 million and his closest challenger, Tony G, has 1.737 million.
The trail of the departed is long a glittering: Mike Watson, Sam Greenwood, Elton Tsang, Rui Cao and Tom Dwan were among those who fired and missed. There was also a first tournament appearance in Madrid for Dan Cates, but there was no miracle for him. He’s been hanging out in the cash-game area since he’s been here, and one suspects he headed straight back there after his cameo today.
A short day for Dan Cates
It’s worth also flagging the appearance in another Day 2 of Richard Yong, having another attempt at matching his Triton co-founder Paul Phua’s Madrid victory. The two players who finished heads up in the previous short deck event, Webster Lim and Bjorn Li, are also both still alive in this one.
And also note Stephen Chidwick, Danny Tang, Chris Brewer and Ike Haxton, who are all in the top eight of the Player of the Year race. Michael Addamo, who is top of that leaderboard, does not play short deck, so his lead is vulnerable.
Richard Yong still in with a shout of short deck triumph
The big points are awarded tomorrow, along with the big money, so keep an eye on the app and the stream as it plays out.
Here are the stacks at this stage:
Mikita Badzkiakouski – 3,127,000
Tony Guoga – 1,703,000
Phil Ivey – 1,669,000
Stephen Chidwick – 1,656,000
Richard Yong – 1,536,000
Isaac Haxton – 1,330,000
Seth Davies – 1,214,000
Bjorn Li – 1,159,000
Danny Tang – 1,148,000
Webster Lim – 1,143,000
Chris Brewer – 1,100,000
Michael Soyza – 803,000
Jason Koon – 373,000
And here’s what they are playing for:
Triton Madrid – Event 12 €100,000 Short Deck Ante Only
Dates: May 23-24, 2022
Entries: 60 (inc. 28 re-entries)
Prize pool: €6,000,000
1 – €1,800,000
2 – €1,305,000
3 – €840,000
4 – €640,000
5 – €490,000
6 – €380,000
7 – €305,000
8 – €240,000
Photography by Joe Giron/PokerPhotoArchive
